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SMITHSONIAN DEPOSIT 




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MEMORIAL 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE 



UPON THE DEATH OF 



HON. JACOB B. KEMERER, 



^ LATE A SENATOR FROM THE EIGHTEENTH DISTRICT 



PENNSYLVANIA. 



WM. STANLEY RAY. 

STATE PKINTER OF PENNSYI-V AN lA. 
1903. 




^K3; 



(2) 



RESOLUTION. 



In the Senate, 
March 2, 1903. 
Resolved (if the House of Representatives concur), That one thousand 
five hundred copies of the memorial proceedings of the Senate upon the 
death of Jacob B. Kemerer, late a member of the Senate from the Eight- 
eenih Senatorial district, be printed and bound in cloth for the use of 
the Senate. 

E. W. SMILEY, 
Chief Clerk of the Senate. 
The foregoing resolution concurred in March 3, 1903. 

THOMAS H. GARVIN, 
Chief Clerk of the House of Representatives. 
Approved— The 18th day of March, A. D. 1903. 

SAML. W. PENNYPACKER. 



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( -i ) 



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(4) 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE SENATE 



UPON THE DEATH OF 



HON. JACOB B. KEMERER 



In the Senate, 
Wednesday, January 7, 1903. 
On motion of Senator Danner the following resolution was twice read, 
considered and agreed to, viz: 

Resolved, That a committee of eight members of the Senate be ap- 
pointed to draft suitable resolutions on the death of the late Senator 
Jacob B. Kemerer, who died on October sixteenth, one thousand nine 
hundred and one, and present said resolutions at a special meeting to 
be held on Wednesday, February third, at three o'clock P. M. 

By subsequent action of the Senate the date of the special session 
was fixed for Wednesday, February twenty-fifth, at three P. M. 



(5) 



(6) 



MEMORIAL RESOLUTIONS AND 
ADDRESSES. 



In the Senate, 
Wednesday, February 25, 1903. 
Afternoon Session. 
Pursuant to adjournment the Senate was called to order 
at three o'clock P. M., President Pro Tempore Scott in the 
chair. 

THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE. The session this 
afternoon is held for the purpose of doing honor to the late 
Jacob Kemerer, a member of the Senate from the county of 
Northampton. 

PRAYER. 

Prayer was offered by the Chaplain, Rev. J. Wesley Sulli- 
van, as follows: 

Oh Lord, our God, we thank Thee that under all circum- 
stances of life we may come into Thy presence not only in 
the sunshine but in the shadow, not only when life comes into 
the world but when it goes out. We thank Thee for Thy 
wise providence, that ever overshadows us, and for Thy 
care, not only in time of life but in eternity, and we pray 
Thee that through these. Thy lessons of death, we may 
learn Thy providence as the message to the King of old as 
he lay sick and dying: "Set thy house in order; for thou shalt 
die, and not live." We are all passing away. 

May we so live as to consider that we shall not live forever, 
but like the king of old and, like all mankind, the hour will 
come when Thou shalt call on each one of us to say farewell 
to all that is dear to us in this life and we shall have to stand 
in Thy presence alone and render unto Thee, our God, an 
account of our stewardship. 

(7) 



MEMORIAL SERVICES. 



Our desire is that in our day and generation we may be 
faithful unto Thee and so Hve in Thy sight and not only in 
the light of this world but in the light of the great eternity 
where we shall live forever. 

Thou hast called this body together this beautiful afternoon 
to do honor to one of its members who has passed away. 
We pray that his memory may be precious in our thought 
and add inspiration to our lives, and, at this moment, we 
would remember those to whom he was most precious ; those 
to whom he was dear by the ties of nature ; those that re- 
member him to-day, and remember him in the days of 
the past, may Thy comfort be with them in their 
sorrow and may their hope be to meet him in the 
great eternity, to see him in Thy presence and to sepa- 
rate from him no more forever. And, as we pray for Thy 
blessing upon them, so we pray for Thy blessing upon our- 
selves and ask Thee that when our work is ended here upon 
earth that we may also be so happy as to enter into that life 
everlasting which Thou hast prepared for those that love and 
serve Thee. And we ask Thee to pardon all our sins in 
Christ, our Saviour's name, Amen. 

Mr. BANNER. Mr. President, as chairman of the com- 
mittee to prepare resolutions relative to the death of our late 
member, Jacob B. Kemerer, of the Eighteenth Senatorial 
district, I beg leave to present the following resolutions: 

RESOLUTIONS. 

Whereas, In obedience to the summons all must obey, 
Honorable Jacob B. Kemerer, Senator from the Eighteenth 
District, after the close of the last session, passed from the 
busy scenes of life to the repose of peace and eternal rest ; 
therefore, be it 



HON. JACOB B. KEMERER. 



Resolved, That the Senate profoundly regrets the loss sus- 
tanied by the death of Jacob B. Kemerer, late a member of 
this body, and extends to the family of the deceased Senator 
Its smcerest condolence in their bereavement. 

Resolved, That we desire to give expression of our appre- 
ciation of the gentlemanly deportment, the faithful service 
and the integrity and the ability characteristic of our deceased 
colleague as a legislator, and deplore the loss of his courteous 
presence. 

Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions, with the action 
of the Senate thereon, be forwarded to the family of the 
deceased and, as a further tribute of the respect due to his 
memory, the Senate do now adjourn. 

THOMAS D. BANNER, 
J. A. STOBER. 
J. C. STINEMAN, 
JOHN E. FOX, 
WEBSTER GRIM, 
ARTHUR G. DEWALT, 
JAMES D. EMERY, 

Committee. 



ADDRESSES. 

President Pro Tempore SCOTT. Fellow Senators: It is 
fitting for me at this time to say a few words concerning the 
late Senator from Northampton. 

Senator Kemerer came to us as a member from the county 
of Northampton for the session of one thousand eight hun- 
dred and mnety-nine. The members of this body who served 
m that memorable session found Jacob B. Kemerer a quiet 
unostentatious and courteous gentleman. He was found 
to be an able and learned member of the bar and always wil- 



10 MEMORIAL SERVICES. 



ling to give from his store of legal learning that help which 
many of us require in the conduct of the business of the 
Legislature of Pennsylvania. He served with distinguished 
ability and faithfulness on the Committee on Judiciary Gen- 
eral during the session, and he was a member of many other 
committees. 

Senator Kemerer was a member of the minority party of 
that session and he was always a faithful follower of his party. 

He was successful in passing legislation for the benefit of 
his constituents, and if he had lived he would undoubtedly 
have been renominated and re-elected to the of^ce which 
he so worthily filled. 

Senator Kemerer occupied a distinguished position at the 
Bar of our State and at the Northampton County Bar. He 
was ever courteous and kindly to his clients. It has been 
remarked of him that it was his greatest pleasure as well as 
his delight to save his clients from protracted litigation by 
arranging that their controversies should be amicably ad- 
justed among the parties. It seems to me that this is one 
of the highest duties that a member of the Bar has to perform 
for his clients ; and Senator Kemerer possessed this to a re- 
markable degree. 

He was honored many times by the people of his town 
tendering to him many local offices. He served as the chief 
executive officer of his town and gave universal satisfaction 
to the many citizens whom he represented. He was always 
endeavoring to bring his town forward to the attention of the 
citizens of our State. 

Our late brother was unable to attend many of the sessions 
of the Senate during the session of one thousand nine hundred 
and one, by reason of illness, but the members of the Senate 
who were present on that memorable occasion during the 
spring of one thousand nine hundred and one, when he came 



HON. JACOB B. KEMERER. n 



to attend a meetino- of our body for the purpose of delivering 
a speech concerning- one of his old school boy friends, will 
always remendjer the calm and dignified speech he delivered 
while practically standing upon the brink of the grave. 

Senator Kemerer departed this life during the recess of 
the Senate; and the large attendance of the members of the 
Senate at his funeral was remarkable. It showed the worth 
of the man as well as the esteem in which he was held by his 
fellow members. 

His family relations were of such a kind, true nature that 
It was a pleasure to his many friends to watch him in the 
intimate circle of his immediate family. 

He fulfilled the duties of a Christian gentleman to the letter 
and many acts of Christian kindness were performed by him 
without the knowledge of the world. 

Senator Kemerer has been taken from his friends, but his 
memory will still survive. The State lost by the death of 
Jacob B. Kemerer a faithful citizen and a valued servant. 

Mr. BANNER. Mr. President : It becomes my sorrowful 
duty m my official capacity as the successor of my deceased 
friend, the late Senator Jacob B. Kemerer, to pay my humble 
tribute to his memory. Of his services, courteous bearing, 
and faithfulness in this chamber, I leave for his associates to 
speak. 

Senator Kemerer was my personal and political friend, and 
I learned to know him intimately as an honest' man, a politi- 
cian whose aim was to promote the welfare of the public, 
rather than of party, his country rather than self. 

His characteristics were of a broad and generous nature, 
mherited from vigorous, pious, and open-hearted parents. 

Senator Kemerer was born December 21, 1842, at Center 
V^alley, Lehigh county, and was the eldest son of the late 
Benjamin Kemerer, a merchant, and his wife, Mary Bachman 



12 MEMORIAL SERVICES. 



Kemerer. The family came from Germany, Jacob Kemerer. 
the late Senator's grandfather, having been one of the early 
settlers of Center Valley. 

The early childhood days of Mr. Kemerer were spent at 
Freemansburg, Northampton county, where his father en- 
gaged in boat-building, rope manufacture, and canal trans- 
portation. In 1848 the family moved to Philadelphia where 
the father became a member of the mercantile firm of Rex, 
Kemerer & Company, and in which city the son mainly ac- 
quired his academical education, graduating from the Central 
High school with the class of 1861. 

Not long afterwards Mr. Kemerer took up his residence 
at Bethlehem, and in 1865 was married to Miss Amanda J. 
Seem, daughter of Joseph Seem, of that borough, and where 
he continued to reside until the final summons came. 

The deceased Senator is survived by his widow, and one 
son, Mr. Albert G. Kemerer, who has been honored by the 
treasurership of his town. 

For a number of years Mr. Kemerer was engaged with 
the firm of H. B. Claflin & Company, the large wholesale 
house of New York city. His educational and business train- 
ing led him into a liking for the legal profession, and he dili- 
gently pursued the course of legal studies with that brilliant 
lawyer, U. J. Wenner, Esq., and who later became a judge 
in the territory of Utah. In 1876, the centennial year of 
our nation's independence, Mr. Kemerer was admitted to the 
bar, and soon enjoyed an active and lucrative practice. 

Mr. Kemerer's public spirit and foresight led him to project 
and assist in carrying to successful accomplishment the acqui- 
sition of large tracts of land adjacent to the borough, in their 
being built up, and which are now large and valuable adjuncts 
to the town. 

His sterling worth, integrity and devotion were recognized 
by his fellow citizens, and they insisted upon his public ser- 



HON. JACOB B. KEMERER. 13 



vice, and from i8<So to 1897 he served almost continuously 
as councilman, solicitor and chief burgess, serving in the 
latter capacity for a period of six years. 

He always rendered ready and valuable service to his party 
in the primaries, conventions, elections, and on committees, 
having been several years a member and chairman of the 
county committee, and a member of the State committee. 
He was also a member of several fraternal organizations: 
Independent Order of Red Men, Knights of Pythias, and of 
the Order of Elks. From 1887 to 1899 Mr. Kemerer was 
associated with Mr. Clarence A. Wolle in successful partner- 
ship transactions in real estate and fire insurance. 

From this brief recital it is evident that the life of our 
deceased brother was a busy one, and withal honorable. But 
he did not shrink from labor or shirk a duty. He loved labor 
and gloried in achievement. As a lawyer, his brothers at 
the bar well knew the service he gave his client, and what 
care, exactness, ability and courtesy he ever displayed. He 
enjoyed the confidence of his clientage, his fellow members, 
and, not least, that of the court. 

In 1898, without solicitation on his part, of which fact I 
have personal knowledge, he was nominated practically with- 
out opposition, to represent Northampton county in the 
Senate of the great State of Pennsylvania, but after the first 
session of his term the hand of affliction was heavily laid 
upon him, and he was not able to fully nor adequately per- 
form his duties as Senator. This to him was a heavy cross. 
a great grief, for it was at variance with his whole course of 
life. 

He was always so careful, conscientious, willing, and effi- 
cient in service and duty, but at last the hand faltered, 
wrecked by suffering and weakness. So, like a martyr at 
his post, a soldier on the firing line, he had to fall in the course 



> 



14 MEMORIAL SERVICES. 

of duty. Although his demise was not sudden, he suffered 
in twihght and in darkness for months and in the bosom of 
his family he sweetly passed away. 

A touching scene was that at the close of his life. It was 
his wish and prayer when the light of day was banished from 
his sight that his vision might be restored, even but briefly 
that he might again look upon the loved ones of his family 
circle. The All-merciful Father answered the prayer, the 
heart-crying wish was gratified, and in the golden afternoon 
preceding his death, he called his wife, her mother, his son 
and his wife and little grandson, to his bedside, and lovingly 
gazed upon them with vision undimned, saying, "he saw all 
of the family group," and for ten minutes there was gladness 
and joy, even in the shadow of death. And then the good 
man relapsed into unconsciousness, 

"Like one who wraps the drapery of his couch 
About him, and lies down to pleasant dreams." 

Mr. STOBER. Mr. President: Jacob B. Kemerer, the 
subject of these resolutions, and myself entered this body 
at the same time. My acquaintance with him dated from 
that time, and though brief, it enabled me to watch his 
public career and note with what fidelity he performed the 
responsible duties he owed to his constituents of Northamp- 
ton county, a constituency that had implicit trust in his ability 
and worth; for, by the votes of the citizens of Bethlehem, 
his home, he was intrusted with positions of great respon- 
sibility since 1880. How faithful he was to that which was 
intrusted to him can best be judged by the action of the 
people in calling him up higher and electing him to represent 
them in this body. 

His integrity and honesty were never questioned, and this 
is saying much in this time of criticism, jealousy and vitupera- 
tion. 



HON. JACOB B. KEMERER. 15 

But he has left us. He has goue to that bourne from 
whence no traveller ever returned. He might now repeat 
with Sou they, 

My hopes are with the dead! Anon. 

My place with them will be, 
And I with them shall travel on 

Through all futurity; 
Yet leaving here a name I trust 

That will not perish in the dust. 

We mourn his loss. Let us emulate his virtues and profit 
by the life he lived. The highest encomium that I can pav 
to his memory is when I say that the Commonwealth has lost 
a faithful legislator and the people an honest man. 

We all remember when Senator Kemerer appeared for the 
last time in this chamber, his frame racked by sickness, his 
vision dimmed, knowing full A\e]l that 

"Though time his bloom was stealing, 
There was still beyond his art — 
The wild flower wreath of feeling, 
The sunbeam of the heart." 

That feeling was exercised when he cast all political ani- 
mosities to the wind and voted for the confirmation of a neigh- 
bor and friend though a political opponent. Such an act of 
true friendship exemplified the character and greatness of 
Senator Kemerer. My heart warms and gladdens as I recall 
the scene. His leading characteristic, universally acknowl- 
edged, was kindness and tenderness. He brought comfort 
to those around him. He followed the instincts of a true 
and generous nature without ostentation, and he was succes- 
ful in the province where God had placed him. Can such a 
man die? No! He has crossed the valley of the shadow of 
death, but he is not dead. 



16 MEMORIAL SERVICES. 



"As the bird to its sheltering nest 

When the storm on the hills is abroad, 
So his spirit has flown from this world of unrest 

To repose on the bosom of God." 

Yes ! he liveth. Who of us will be the first to follow him, 
Providence wisely conceals. Let us be prepared for the call 
and exclaim with Pope, 

The world recedes! it disappears! 

Heaven opens on my eyes! my ears 
With sounds seraphic i-ing! 

Lend, lend your wings! I mount! I fly! 
grave! where is thy victory! 

O death! where is thy sting! 

Mr. DEWALT. Mr. President : On the beautiful banks 
of the Lehigh there is situated the ancient and historic bor- 
ough of Bethlehem. In that ancient town there is what is 
known, in the German language, a plot called "Godes Acre," 
in other words, "God's Acre," and upon that plot there are 
the graves of those who have died in many, many years past, 
since Bethlehem was first founded. You find, in turn, in 
that plot the remains of those who were the red men of this 
country, and then became christianized, and were followers 
of the Moravian Church— from the early days of this first 
settlement the inhabitants of that ancient borough have had 
their bones placed in this last resting place. The remarkable 
feature of this burial place is that there is no distinction of 
race or class in marking the places of those who therein rest. 
At each grave there is simply placed a mark, not a towering 
monument or headstone, but an unostentatious slab with a 
simple engraving thereon, giving the name of the departed, 
his birth and the date of his death. It is a grand tribute to 
the belief of the old Moravian Church, of which the late 
Senator was a member, that when we are dead we are all 
alike, equal before God. 



HON. JACOB B. KEMERER. 17 



Tlie distinction that men may attain during their short ca- 
reers in this Hfe, after all, in the sight of God, amounts to 
nothing, and there can be nothing so touching, in my recol- 
lection, as the fact that when I have gone to this last resting 
place of those who are not known in high distinction, in plact 
or power, but known as Christian men and women, that each 
one recei^•es from those who were his friends and is rendered 
the same simple token of observance. 

I understand, in this "God's Acre" there rests the body of 
our late brother Senator, and the very fact that he is there 
is emblematic of his character. His life, in its entirety, was 
an exemplification of honesty and simplicity, and I doubt not. 
that had he been consulted as to his last resting place, and 
as to the memorial to be placed above his tomb it would'have 
been just what he received, a simple stone with a simple token 
of inscription. I believe, too, when I recollect the tributes 
paid to this man's character, and the kind sentiments he bore 
in his heart, that there was another Christian principle incul- 
cated in his heart, in his life, that was this, "Peace on earth 
and good will toward men." 

I was intimately acquainted with the late Senator Kemerer, 
and if there was ever a man in my community who exempli- 
fied, by his life, this great Christian precept of "Peace on earth 
and good will toward men" I can with sincerity say it was 
our late distinguished friend. 

They have at this place, too, in the ancient borough to 
which I have referred, another touching custom : When they 
have been informed that one of their neighbors or friends has 
gone the great journey, they rise in their simplicity, and in 
the greatest solemnity proceed to the highest pinnacle of the 
church tower and there play the solemn ritual for the de- 
parted. They play it on the trumpets and trombone, and 
call to heaven not in a spirit of gloom, but in the greatest 
sorrow, that one has gone from their midst. And I sav, fur- 



18 MEMORIAL SERVICES. 



ther, be our pretensions of grief accompanied by trumpet 
blasts or not, they are what we beheve to be the just tribute 
to our late lamented friend. 

There is one other thought, m conclusion, and that is this, 
that when that great trumpet shall sound for us all, and that 
day of final reckoning comes, when each shall render his 
account, when the ledger shall be balanced and the debit and 
credit side is fully made up, I liave no fear in my mind, from 
this man's character that there will not be a larger credit than 
debit, in fact, I know from his gentleness, his honesty, his 
manliness, that the credit side will be so large that the gra- 
cious God, in his magnanimity, will say, "Enter thou into the 
joy of thy Lord." 

Mr. HERBST. Mr. President : I first met Senator Kem- 
erer at the opening of the session of one thousand nine hun- 
dred and one. It then scarcely needed the trained eye of 
the physician to see that the inexorable clutch of an incurable 
malady was laid heavily upon him, and that his days were 
numbered. Almost totally blind, with body weakened and 
racked by suffering and pain, it is superfluous to say that 
the Senator Kemerer I knew must have been far different 
from Senator Kemerer in health, with mental faculties clear, 
with bodily vigor unabated, and with ambition buoyant. 

Death is rarely a welcome visitor, come when he may, or 
in whatever guise ; still, to one borne down by blindness and 
pain, dissolution may furnish a grateful release, even though 
life's plans may be u^r^mpleted, and all its hopes and ambi- 
tions as yet unrealized. This no doubt was the Senator's 
condition when he peacefully passed to the great beyond, at 
an age when still many years of usefulness might have been 
before him. 

Senator Kemerer, on the few occasions that I met him, 
impressed me, above all, as a kindly, good natured, friendly 
man ; one full of the "milk of hum.an kindness." Such men 



HON. JACOB B. KEMERBR. lii 

make and hold friends, and hi^ career amidst his neighbors 
proves this. When a candidate for pubhc of^ce he always, 
in his home city where best known, ran far ahead of his 
ticket. This shows that he possessed 

"That best portion of a good man's life, 
His little, nameless, unremembered acts 
Of kindness and of love." 

The tears dropped on the bank of flowers which covered 
his casket, and the grief-stricken countenances, told all too 
plainly how deeply his loss was felt among his own people. 

His fidelity to his friends was strikingly illustrated in one 
of his last public acts, when he was led into this chamber to 
vote for the confirmation of his life-long friend, though po- 
litical opponent. I have often thought what a blessed thing 
it is that, as the shadows of life lengthen, and the inevitable 
summons draws ne.^rer, w^e become less rancorous in our 
partisanship, less letter in our political prejudices, and can 
see more of the good in everything and in everybody. A 
Democrat after the straightest of the sect, he was also broad 
minded and liberal, and, above all, a patriotic American. 

Having served a thorough business apprenticeship before 
he studied his chosen profession, he became on this account, 
frequently, a doubly safe counsellor. 

During our brief acquaintance I found him to be an intelli- 
gent, quiet, dignified, amiable gentleman. He was a good 
citizen, a faithful public servant, and an irreproachable Sen- 
ator. 

A long and patient sufTerer, "after life's fitful fever" may 
Senator Kemerer have found the rest vouchsafed those who 
have toiled diligently and faithfully. For 

"Honest toil is blessed, and he who works most faithfully has 
earned the sweetest rest." 



20 MEMORIAL. SERVICES. 



1 he PRESIDENT. The question is on the adoption of 
the resolutions offered relative to the late Senator from North- 
ampton county. 

The question being, 
Will the Senate agree to the resolution ? 
It was unanimously agreed to. 

ADJOURNMENT. 

Mr. DANNER. Mr. President, I move the Senate do now 
adjourn. 

Mr. CALPIN. Mr. President, I second the motion. 

The question being, 

.Will the Senate agree to the motion? 

It was agreed to. 

Whereupon, 

The Senate adjourned to meet at nine o'clock P. M., Mon- 
day, March second, one thousand nine hundred and three. 



